Orange Line - Karachi Metrobus Explained

Number:Orange Line
Titlecolor:
  1. ffffff
Routetype:Bus rapid transit
Status:Active
System:Karachi Metrobus
Operator:Government of Sindh
Vehicle:20 Hybrid buses
Locale:Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
Stops:4

The Orange Line, also known as the Abdul Sattar Edhi Line, is a 3.881NaN1 bus rapid transit line of the Karachi Metrobus in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.[1] [2] It is the smallest of the five Metrobus lines in the city.[3] The current daily ridership is 3,000.[4] The route goes from Board Office to Gulshan-e-Zia (Orangi Town). It was inaugurated on 10 September 2022.[5]

History

Originally named the Orange Line, construction began on 11 June 2016. Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah inaugurated the construction work, while Rs. 2 billion were earmarked by the Government of Sindh for the project's completion.[6] National Engineering Services Pakistan served as the consultants, with principal engineer Rehan Zamin serving as the project manager. On 13 December 2016, the Government of Sindh renamed the Orange Line after the late philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, in recognition of his services to the poor.

Initially planned to be completed in one year, the project faced numerous delays, which meant it could not become operational until 2022.

The Orange Line was formally inaugurated on 10 September 2022 and began operations the same day. Twenty air-conditioned buses are to be plied on the route, each with a capacity of 90 passengers. The ticket fares range from Rs.10 to Rs.20.

Route

The Orange Line goes from Board Office to Orangi town till TMO office, spanning about 4 kilometers. The line carries around 3,000 passengers daily with a station after every kilometer.[7] Three of the four stations are at ground level, while one is elevated. Each station is 6 meters wide and 70 meters long.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: 2016-12-13 . Karachi's Orange Line BRT renamed after Edhi . 2022-09-19 . The Express Tribune.
  2. News: PM announces Rs15bn for Karachi 'Green Line' bus project . July 10, 2014 . . July 10, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140710160923/http://www.dawn.com/news/1118317/pm-announces-rs15bn-for-karachi-green-line-bus-project. live. July 10, 2014.
  3. News: Azam . Oonib . 2016-06-10 . Orange is the new BRT . 2022-09-19 . The Express Tribune.
  4. News: Ayub . Imran . 2024-05-17 . Karachi's BRT Green and Orange lines now go hand in hand . 2024-06-27 . Dawn.
  5. News: Ali . Imtiaz . 2022-09-10 . Sindh govt launches Orange Line bus service in Karachi . 2022-09-19 . Dawn.
  6. News: Saadat . Suleman . 26 September 2021 . Karachi's Orange Line BRT still in limbo after 5 years . 2022-09-19 . Geo News.
  7. News: 2016-08-17 . Sindh Orange Line bus project 'moving apace' . 2022-09-19 . . The Express Tribune.